n the lordly way of his kind with the offender. They
called her "our co-ed" and "the boss girl" after that. The professor of
mathematics occasionally left on his blackboard Sylvia's demonstrations
and pointed them out to his class as models worthy of their emulation.
Spring stole into the heart of the Wabash country and the sap sang again
in maples and elms. Lilacs and snowballs bloomed, and Professor Kelton
went serenely about among his roses. Sylvia passed her examinations, and
was to be admitted to Wellesley without conditions,--all the Lane knew
and rejoiced! The good news was communicated to Mrs. Owen, who wrote at
once to Professor Kelton from the summer headquarters she had
established on her farm in northern Indiana that just then required
particular attention. It ran:--
I want you to make me a visit. Sylvia must be pretty tired after
her long, busy year and I have been tinkering the house here a
little bit so you can both be perfectly comfortable. It's not so
lonely as you might think, as my farm borders Lake Waupegan, and
the young people have gay times. My niece, Mrs. Bassett, has a
cottage on the lake only a minute's walk from me. I should like
Marian and Sylvia to get acquainted and this will be easy if only
you will come up for a couple of weeks. There are enough old folks
around here, Andrew, to keep you and me in countenance. I inclose a
timetable with the best trains marked. You leave the train at
Waupegan Station, and take the steamer across the lake. I will meet
you at any time you say.
So it happened that on a June evening they left the train at Waupegan
and crossed the platform to the wheezy little steamer which was waiting
just as the timetable had predicted; and soon they were embarked and
crossing the lake, which seemed to Sylvia a vast ocean. Twilight was
enfolding the world, and all manner of fairy lights began to twinkle at
the far edges of the water and on the dark heights above the lake.
Overhead the stars were slipping into their wonted places.
"You can get an idea of how it is at sea," said her grandfather, smiling
at her long upward gaze. "Only you can hardly feel the wonder of it all
here, or the great loneliness of the ocean at night."
It was, however, wonder enough, for a girl who had previously looked
upon no more impressive waters than those of Fall Creek, Sugar Creek,
and White River. The steamer, with much sputter
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